Material-handling machine



May 2 6, 1953 R. u. ZOLLARS ETAL.

MATERIAL-HANDLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 30 1950 INVENTORS JDLa son Alia/ w 5 y 5 R. u. ZOLLARS ETAL 2,639,949

MATERIAL-HANDLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTORS v JliBerzy, RUIZo/lars &

B Jflawson 42% iiorngys Patented May 26, 1953 MATERIAL -HANDLING MACHINE Richard U. Zollars and Jack D. Lawson, Ottumwa,

Iowa, and Jack H. Berry, Rock Island, 111., assignors to Deere Manufacturing 00., Dubuque, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application December 30, 1950, Serial No. 203,696

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a material-handling machine and more particularly to feeding and elevating means for use in handling ensilage and other material on farms.

A typical machine of the general character referred to ordinarily comprises a horizontal feed table having an auger or equivalent conveyor for moving material in a horizontal path toward an upright housing in which a high-speed rotor blows or throws the material upwardly through a vertically directed tangential discharge duct. Machines of this nature are capable of elevating material to substantial heights and are commonly used for filling silos and other storage buildings.

It has been found in the design, development and use of these machines that the efficiency and capacity thereof varies according to the material handled. In the case of relatively light and dry material, such as hay that has been chopped, elevation by the rotor in the housing is largely accomplished as a result of blowing of the material upwardly through the discharge duct. However, purely dry material as such is never ensiled and the machine when used for handling dry material is merely a convenience that is used in lieu of elevators of the inclined mechanical type. The primary function of an ensilage "blower is the handling and elevating of ensilage "material which, by definition, has considerable moisture content. Moisture content may vary between 30 per cent and 95 per cent. Some material when out is not sufficiently moist for ensiling, and it is not uncommon to add a preservative such as molasses, lactic acid or plain water,

because material which is to be used for ensilage will not ensile unless there is a certain moisture content.

The proposition of handling material of a high moisture content in a blower of the type referred to is entirely different from the handling of dry material. It has been determined through extensive operational tests that the conventional machine does not have sufficient capacity to suspend wet, heavy material. Consequently, the rotor is not solely a blower but is additionally a thrower." Since the machine must be capable of use in the handling of material in which the moisture content varies all the way from per cent to 95 per cent, the machine must be constructed with various features of design so that its operational characteristics can be varied to secure the highest operating efficiency. In general, the difference between operation of the machine as a blower and as a thrower stems primarily from the moisture content or density of material handled. In the case of dry material, which is essentially light and fluffy, considerable air enters the rotor housing along with the material through the feed opening. 011 the other hand, in the case of dense and wet material, the material itself substantially seals the feed opening against the entrance of air. Consequently, it is desirable to provide air inlet means to admit additional air. The mere provision of an additional opening just anywhere in the housing has been found to be not only inadequate but undesirable. For example, in the handling of some dense materials, it has been proven that too much air will rotate the flow of material and ultimately clog or plug the machine. Therefore, it became expedient to provide an adjustable control for the air inlet opening.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine of the character described in which controllable air and material inlets are provided, with subsidiary objects relating to the relationship of the air and material inlet openings and the coordinated control thereof so that the user of the machine may obtain the best results with various types of materials.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will be developed in the following detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine commonly referred to as an ensilage blower;

Figure 2 is a front view of the rotor housing, with the feed-control doors removed so as to expose the feed inlet opening;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, the feedcontrol doors having been added and being shown in one position of adjustment thereof;

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 3 but showing different positions of the feed-control doors;

Figure 6 is a rear end view of the discharge end of the feeder means;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view showing the interior of the housing, the view being taken in the direction as indicated by the encircled numeral 1 in Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a rear' view of the rotor housing, showing the controllable air-inlet opening.

A brief over-all picture of the general operationof the machine may be obtained from the following description and reference to the drawings in Figure 1.

The machine comprises essentially a frame Ill equipped with laterally spaced wheels 12 and I4 between which is supported an upright, generally circular blower or rotor housing 16. This housing has at one side thereof an upright discharge duct or stack 18 that is tangent to one side of the housing 16. Normally, a vertical conduit will be connected to the top of the stack I8 for the pur pose of conducting material to a relatively high elevation, as to. a silo or other storage building. I

Such conduit, as well as the building, has been omitted in the interests of brevity.

Material is supplied to the rotor housing l6 by means of a feeder including a feed table 28 within which is a conveyor, here shown as an angel 22 which rotates in the direction of the arrow A.

The front Wall of the rotor housing has a material-inlet opening 24 through rial is fed by the auger 22. A rotor 28 is car H l within the housing for rotation substantially about the longitudinal horizontal axis about which the housing is circular. The rotor rotates in the direction of the arrow B and o perates to propel the material upwardly the discharge stack [87 Material may be supplied to the feed table i'n. con e'iitiohal manner, such as by delivery ifi'ih a wagon or trailer of the type commonly found on farms;

Reference inthe rqreeoi'n': de iptioh ahd iii that to follow has been and will he iiiade to the machine as having front and rear ends. The front end of the machine isthat enu which a draft tongue 28 xtends. tongue is atoms in transporting the machine on the wheels I {and 14. The wheels matte of the retractable type so that when the machine is operated; the frame It) may rest on the groundto support the machine in a relatively stationary p'o'sitio'n. These details are not important here are referred to -only for orientation purposes.

In the following description, the details or the housing construction will be develoio'ed.

Theho'usin'g has a front wan 3i! a rear wall 32. These walls are substantially circular. havingonly the corner portions for givin the lion ig the necessary shape to 1 ve the tangential junctioh with the discharge stack IS. The two walls 30 and 32 are coaxial and are spaced entity apart as best shown in Figure '7. These walls are Joined by a circumferential wall 34,- vhich respect the housing may be said to be stantially conventional. The longitudinal horizontal aiiis about which the housing is substantially circular as aforesaid is designated by the letter C. Ihe rotor 25 is journald on the axis C by means of a roleand-aft extending shaft 36 that projects through a bearing 38 'at the rear of the wall 32. power may be supplies o the start at in suitable manner, the details of are not important here.

The rotor itself may be or conventional design; It is here shown as comprising a square plate It to which are afhked radial a-i h'is 4-2. Each arm carries at its outer end a paddle 44. I r

When viewed from the front, as in 2, the rotor 25 rotates in a clockwise direction (the arrow B previously referred to). The housin may be considered a's loeing divided by intersect ing, horizontal and vertical lines into first, second, third and fourth quadrants, numbered by the Roman numerals I, II, III and IV in a, clockwise direction progressing from the upper right=hand quadrant. As viewed from the rear (Figures) the quadrants will appear in a counterclockwise succession. Likewise, the direction of rotation of the rotor 24 will be counterclockwise. I I I The feed opening 24 may be considered as having a substantially T shape made up of an upper or first part 46 that is relatively laterally wide and that is relatively vertically narrow, and a lower or second part 48 that is relatively verti cally elongated and relatively laterally narrow. The major portion of the inlet opening 2 1 is in the second quadrant; although, the upper e1on= gated part 36 thereof lies in part in all quadrants,

with a major portion thereof in the first and second quadrants. In o hei Words; the upper part 46 of the opening 2! eiitehds substantially radially to the right on a horizontal line through the axis C. The stack I8 is tangential to the housing J6 in the fourth quadrant, and it is thus diagonally opposite the feed inlet opening Z4. The position (if the {d inlet opening 24 is such, with respect to th rotor 26, that the rotor arms movedowhwardly past the feed opening and then upwardly to propel material through the discharge stack 1.8, and. the shape and position of ifi 24.

The size or the teen opening 24 with respectto th quailtifiy of matenai that may be admitted to the rotor housing through this opening is controlled h'y first ahd second, relatively movable doors and 52. The first door is relatively wide so as to overlie the upper part 48 of the feed opening '24. This door is centrally notched at 54 so that the notch thereof has substantially the same width the lower or second part ill of the feed opening. When the door 50 is in position; the notch Bl forms substantially a continuation of the lower opening part 18. The door 50 is pro vided at each side with a vertical slot 56. These slots respectively receive threaded studs 58 that project forwardly from the front wall 30. These studs resp ctive y tarry threaded hand nuts ea by means of any selected vertical position of the door so may be secured; within the limits of the slots 56; 7

its second door 52 is substantiall smaller than the door 50 but i large enough to cover the notch 54 the latter. The debt s2 is superimposed 'o'naiid movably carried by the door 50 through the medium of a pair of threaded studs 62 which pass vertical slots 64 in the door 52. Various positions of adjustment of the door 52 relative to the door 50 may be secured by hand nuts 88 threaded on the studs 52. Figures 3,4 and 5 indicate various positions of adjustment or the elders relative to each other and relative to the feed opening 24. An intermediate portion of the door 52 may be formed with an overhanging lip 68 which serves as a handle to facilitate movement of the door.

A's shown in Figure 4-, both doors to and 52 have been moved to their lowermost positions, thus completely covering the up er half of the entirefeed opening 24. Figure 5 shows both doors moved to their ma um uppermost positions,

thus ce'mpletely ex osing the entire feed opening 2i. gur 3 shows the lowermost position of the door 56 and the uppermost position of the door 52. In this figure, it will be noted that the outer portions of the upper part 16 of the feed openmg 24 are covered and that the lower portion 48 of thef'eed opening 2 and the notch 5 4 in the door 50 form vertical, relatively long narrow feed opening. Regulation of the doors 'Will be consistent with the type of material being handied. For example, if the material is relatively light and dry, the capacity of the machine may be found to be increased by movement of the doors to the positicn in Figure 5. On the other hand, if the material is quite dense and moist, utmost 'ehiciehcy and capacity of the-machine may be obtained by adjustment of the doors to the position of Figure 4. Various intermediate stages may be obtained by adjustment of the doors between the position of Figure 4 and that of Figure 5, according to the type of material being handled.

The rear wall 32 of the rotor housing l6 has an air-inlet opening 19 which, as best seen in Figure 8, is horizontally or laterally elongated and extends in part into the second quadrant and in part into the third quadrant. The part thereof in the second quadrant is in fore-and-aft alinement with the lower portion 48 of the material-feed opening 24. It will be further noted that the opening H3 is considerably below the axis C of the housing l6. Stated otherwise, since the lower portion of the openings 24 and Ill are in fore-and-aft alinement, it may be said that the rotor housing is supplied with material and air at substantially the same time and at substantially the same place. The size of the opening may be regulated by vertically movable means comprising an air-control door 12 having spacedapart vertical slots 14 receivable by threaded studs l6 that project rearwardly from the wall 32. These studs respectively receive threaded hand nuts 18 by means of which any selected position of the door 12 may be secured.

Briefly, the theory of operation as determined by extensive tests is that sufficient air enters the rotor housing with light, dry material so that an additional air-inlet opening need not be provided. However, additional air is required in the handling of dense wet material, since material of this nature tends to close the feed opening 24. From this it will be seen that the larger the opening 2 is permitted to be because of adjustment of the doors 50 and 52, the greater the opportunity for the admission of air with the material; provided, that the material is not so moist and dense as to completely close oil the opening to the admission of air as suggested above. It follows therefore that the wide open feed opening 24 will be utilized only in the handling of dry material. The size of the opening will be made smaller, normally, in proportion to the density and moisture content of the material being handled. Since the opening in this case will be substantially small, little, if any, air can enter the rotor housing. Consequently, additional air must be supplied through the opening 70 in the rear wall 32. The size of this opening can be regulated and the adjustment of the openings 24 and Ill can be coordinated by the user according to the type'of material being handled so that the maximum operating efficiency of the machine is achieved in all situations within the capacity of the machine.

The location of the opening 'Hl relative to the feed opening 24 is determined in part by a desire to avoid turbulence in the rotor housing. As suggested above, turbulence in the housing will cause rotation of the material which often causes plu ging or clogging, besides requiring additional power to drive the rotor. The admission of a large quantity of air at an indiscriminate location will not increase the efficiency of the machine for, as just stated, too much air creates turbulence. Likewise turbulence is created by the admission of air too far ahead of admission of the material. This seems to follow from the fact that early admission of air would give the rotor an opportunity to create turbulence prior to the feeding of material through the opening 24, which turbulence will in turn create undesirable rotation of material. In this respect, it must be remembered closure have proven satisfactory in use and operation.

The present disclosure is to be taken as illustrative only, since various modifications and alterations therein may be made without depart-- ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a material-handling elevator of the type in which material is fed horizontally along a feeder means to a rotary elevating means, the improvement comprising: an upright housing that isgenerally circular about a horizontal axis and that has an upright tangential discharge duct, said housing having horizontally spaced apart, upright front and rear walls, the front wall being adjacent and normal to the feeder means and having a feed opening therein through whichthe feeder means introduces material into the housing; said feed opening being offset laterally to the side of the housing opposite the discharge duct and a major portion of said opening being below the housing axis; a rotor of the radial-arm type within the housing and journaled on the housing axis for rotation so that the radial arms move downwardly across the feed opening and then upwardly to propel material through the discharge duct; door means movably carried by the housing for regulating the size of the feed opening; said rear wall being imperforate except for an air inlet opening disposed below the housing axis and laterally elongated so as to have a portion thereof in fore and aft alinement with the lower part of the feed opening and another portion offset laterally from the lower part of the feed opening in the direction of the discharge spout; and means movably carried by the housing for selectively covering the air inlet opening in varying amounts to regulate the size thereof.

2. In a material-handling elevator of the type in which material is fed horizontally along a feeder means to a rotary elevating means, the improvement comprising: an upright housing that is generally circular about a horizontal axis and including a front wall adjacent and normal to the feeder means and a rear wall spaced axially from said front wall; said housing being imaginarily divided by intersecting horizontal and vertical lines into quadrants identifiable as first, second, third and fourth quadrants proceeding clockwise from the top of the front wall of the housing; said housing having a vertical discharge duct tangent to the housing in the fourth quadrant; said front wall including a feed opening having its major portion in the second quadrant and in line with the feeder means; a rotor of the radial-arm type within the housing and journaled on the housing axis for rotation in a clockwise direction as identified above so that the radial arms receive material in the second quadrant and move it thence to the third and fourth quadrants for exit through the discharge duct; said rear wall being imperforate except for an air inlet opening confined to the second and third quadrants and lying in part in the second quad- 1 rant and in part in the thirdquadrant, said part in the second quadrant being in fore and aft alinement with a lower portion of the feed opening; and movable means carried by the housing and cooperative with the air inlet opening to selectively cover said opening in varying amounts for varying the size .thereof.

3. In a material-handling elevator of the type in which material is fed horizontally along a feeder means to a rotary elevating means, the improvement comprising: an upright housing that is generally circular about a horizontal axis and including a front wall adjacent and normal to the feeder means and a rear wall spaced axially from said front wall; said housing being imaginarily divided by intersecting horizontal and vertical lines into quadrants identifiable as first, second, third and fourth quadrants proceeding clockwise from the top of the front wall of the housing; said housing having a vertical discharge duct tangent to the housing in the fourth .quad rant; said front'wall including a feed opening in line with the feeder means and being generally T-shaped, having a first, laterally elongated, vertically narrow part extending horizontally radially and lying in part in the first and second quadrants, and a second laterally narrow and vertically elongated part extending into the second quadrant; a rotor of the radial-arm type within the housing and journaled on the housing axis for rotation in a clockwise direction as identified above so that the radial arms receive material in the second quadrant and move it thence to the third and fourth quadrants for exit through the discharge duct; said rear wall being imperforate except for an air inlet opening confined to the second and third quadrants and lying in part in the second quadrant and in part in the third quadrant, said part in the second quadrant being in fore and aft alinement with the lower portion of the second part of the feed opening; and movable means carried by the housing and cooperative with the air inlet opening to selectively cover said opening in varying amounts for varying the size thereof.

4. In a material-handling elevator of the type in which material is fed horizontally along a feeder means to a rotary elevating means, the improvement comprising: an upright housing that is generally circular about a horizontal axis and including a front wall adjacent and normal to the feeder means and a rear wall spaced axially from said front wall; said housing being imaginarily divided by intersecting horizontal and vertical lines into quadrants identifiable as first, second, third and fourth quadrants proceeding clockwise from the top of the front wall of the housing; said housing having a vertical discharge duct tangent to the housing in the fourth quadrant; said front wall including a feed opening in line with the feeder means and being generally T-shaped, having a first, laterally elongated, vertically narrow part extending horizontally radially and lying in part in the first and second quadrants, and a second, laterally narrow and vertically elongated part extending into the second quadrant; a first vertically movable door carried by the feed opening and sufficiently wide laterally to extend across the first part of the feed opening, and having an upwardly directed notch vertically coincident with the second part of said feed opening, a second door superimposed on and vertically movable relative to the first door for selectively covering said notch in varying amounts, means mounting the doors for movement together to cover the entire first part of the opening; a rotor of the radial-arm type within the housing and journaled on the housing axis for rotation in a clockwise direction as identified above so that the radial arms receive material in the second quadrant and move it thence to the third and fourth quadrants for exit through the discharge duct; said rear wall being imperforate except for an air inlet opening confined to the second and third quadrants and lying in part in the second quadrant and in part in the third quadrant, said part in the second quadrant being in fore and aft alinement with the lower portion of the second part of the feed opening; and movable means carried by the housing and cooperative with the air inlet opening to selectively cover said opening in varying amounts for varying the size thereof.

5. In a material-handling elevator of the type in which material is fed horizontally along a feeder means to a rotary elevating means, the improvement comprising: an upright housing that is generally circular about a horizontal axis and including a front wall adjacent and normal to the feeder means and a rear wall spaced axially from said front wall; said housing being imaginarily divided by intersecting horizontal and vertical lines into quadrants identifiable as first, second, third and fourth quadrants proceeding clockwise from the top of the front wall of the housing; said housing having a vertical discharge duct tangent to the housing in the fourth quadrant; said front wall including a feed opening having its major portion in the second quadrant and in line with the feeder means; a rotor of the radial-arm type within the housing and journaled. on the housing axis for rotation in a clockwise direction as identified above so that the radial arms receive material in the second quadrant and move it thence to the third and fourth quadrants for exit through the discharge duct; said rear wall being imperforate except for an air inlet opening radially spaced from the rotor axis so as to lie adjacent to the circular path traveled by the outermost portions of the rotor arms and being horizontally elongated and relatively vertically narrow, said air inlet opening being confined to the second and third quadrants and in part in the second quadrant and in part in the third quadrant, said part in the second quadrant being in fore-and-aft alinement with the lower portion of the second part of the feed opening; and vertically movable means carried by the housing and cooperative with the air inlet opening to selectively cover said opening in varying amounts for varying the size thereof.

6. The invention defined in claim 2, in which: the movable means for selectively covering the air inlet opening has a generally horizontal cut-of! edge portion and is movable in a vertical direction to cut off the inlet opening in horizontal increments.

RICHARD U. ZOLLARS. JACK D. LAWSON.

JACK H. BERRY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,477,469 Wallace Dec. 11, 1923 1,844,797 Schlechter Feb. 9, 1932 1,900,213 Wenberg Mar. 7, 1933 2,239,913 Hall Apr. 29, 1941 

